Dulac’s stomach twisted at the thought. His eyes narrowed, and he gritted his teeth. “I’ll die before I tell you anything.”
Alam’s laughter was dry and cruel. “Yes, but will you let Jesse die?”
Dulac’s heart panged with the thought. His jaw ticked in annoyance as he braced his soul for words he never thought he’d speak. “If that keeps my daughters from you, then lay her dead body at my feet.”
* * * *
Dulac wished he’d never uttered the words. It had set fear lose in his soul, but he was determined not to show it. Two days had passed with no contact from his captor. He was still locked up tight in the study with nothing for company but his thoughts. They hadn’t bothered to gag him, and he had let his voice be heard. There was, however, only so much screaming one could do before one lost their voice, as had happened to him.
His wrists were covered with dried blood from his struggles with the ropes. He would rather they beat him than this. His thoughts of Jesse were more tortuous than physical pain, and deep down, he realized he’d played right into Alam’s diabolical plan. The man obviously was aware of how the mind could produce its own torture just from not knowing.
Hunger pains hit his stomach like a fist. He hadn’t been fed in two days. He welcomed the distraction, game for anything that kept his imagination at bay. When the wave of craving passed, an image of Jesse flashed in his memory.
It was the first time he had met her, when he thought she was a boy. She had clobbered him with a bucket, and while his bell had been rung soundly, it hadn’t knocked him out. So when he had captured her and met her eyes in the moonlight, the attraction that had instantly sizzled between them had completely wigged him out.
A sudden, far away scream brought him out of his reverie. He strained to look over his shoulder at the door, silently praying someone would come in the room. But they seemed to have forgotten about him, and if it hadn’t been for the screams he heard every now and then, he would have thought they had left him to starve to death. He knew the screams came from Jesse, and it tore his soul to shreds.
He hung his head, wishing he had water to ease the fire in his throat. His tongue was thick as cotton, and he wondered how long he could go without fresh water.
Dulac thought about the day Jesse wormed his way into his heart, albeit at the time, in a brotherly way. That was the day the little monkey had made its home in her hair. When she had finally seen the mirth in the situation, she had laughed until her sides hurt. Her laugh had pierced his inner chill towards her, and he cracked.
“Hey,” he croaked. “I’ll tell you now. Hey, Alam!”
Seconds later, the door flew open, and his nemesis sauntered in. He sat on the edge of the desk and crossed his arms. “Alright. Then tell me, and Jesse will be spared.”
“What have you done to her?”
“You are wasting my time. I have things to attend to.”
Dulac closed his eyes, struggling with the decision he had made. He couldn’t live without Jesse. “The girls are in Baton Rouge with my cousin.”
Alam’s eyes became slits. “Let’s go then.”
“I’m going too?” Dulac couldn’t believe it. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll escape?”
“No, you love Jesse too dearly, and you know I’ll kill her if you do.”
* * * *
Gagged and bound, Dulac stood beside the covered carriage with his own personal body guard. He watched as Alam pushed Jesse forward. A scarf was tied around her mouth, and her hands were tied with a rope. He had never felt so helpless as he watched as his wife was picked up and thrown into the vehicle. Alam stopped in front of him. “If it’s a trap, you’ll watch her suffer for it.”
Then Dulac was forced into the carriage, and his new found friend sat beside him. Jesse sat across from him. His blood boiled when he saw her bruised and bloodied face.
The carriage took off, and Dulac was thrown against his bodyguard. The man immediately shoved him into the wall, and he fought the urge to fight back. The space was limited, and his new friend was huge. He did his best to keep from touching him the entire ride.
Dulac couldn’t wait to get to his cousin’s house. At the first sight of Jesse coming out of the house earlier, he had become apprehensive because she had been forced to accompany them. Now, however, she was at least in sight, and he wouldn’t have to worry about what they were doing to her. He could keep an eye on her as his plans fell into place. For Dulac knew the second they all entered the house, it would be surrounded by the constable’s men.
He smiled, envisioning the look on Alam’s face as the police swarmed into the room. He hoped to be next to Jesse so he could throw himself on top of her should any shooting occur. He was sure they would both still be trussed up like turkeys, but if they could at least hit the floor...
Thirty minutes later, the carriage rolled to a stop. Show time.
Dulac remained calm as he was grabbed by his shirt and hauled out of the carriage. The street lamps had been lit against the dark. He looked but could not see any movement in the surrounding shadows. He stumbled as he was shoved from behind. All he could do was follow his friend as the front door was kicked in.
Dulac tripped on the doorway, and he struggled to keep from kissing the man’s back. Regaining his balance, he stepped close to the wall as the tiny foyer filled with men. He tucked his elbows into his sides as a small table poked the left side of his derriere.
Alam pushed through his men to stand in front of Dulac. Jesse was on the other side of the room, so Dulac knew he would fail if he had to protect her as he had once hoped.
The gag was yanked down, and he winced as his jaw was almost ripped off with it. He tried not to grin as he thought about the police that must surely be surrounding them by now.
“What room?” Alam asked.
“Surely you see how small the house is? Must I tell you everything?”
Alam looked as if he wanted to slap Dulac but instead snapped his fingers. Two men ran up the stairs while two others began searching the downstairs.
At least we have more room now. Dulac stepped away from the table’s sharp corner. Okay, policemen, any time now.
Alam stared at Dulac as they waited. He refused to look away, stealing himself for battle. He was tired of backing down from a fight. He was ready for one.
Each tick of the grandfather clock seemed to bounce loudly against the walls. Nerves were tested as they waited for men that were not coming back. Dulac allowed himself a half smile. He kicked himself for not resisting the pleasure as awareness flittered through Alam’s eyes. It was swiftly replaced with darkness.
The front door flew open, and Dulac threw himself at Alam and landed on top of the man. He was immediately pushed away, and he rolled into a set of legs, unable to stop himself.
Chaos erupted above them. The police yelled. The Arabs shot aimlessly, and Dulac panicked. He was on the floor, but Jesse wasn’t. He pushed himself to his knees, only to come face to face with a huge knife. Alam’s black eyes glittered dangerously.
Without thinking, Dulac jerked his bound hands up to knock the knife away. The blade sliced his cheek before sinking into his left shoulder. He had moved at the right time, for Alam meant to kill. With both hands, Dulac punched Alam in the face. It wasn’t as strong as he would have liked, but it pushed the man back on his butt.
Dulac grabbed the knife’s hilt and yanked it out of his flesh. Warm blood gushed, but he ignored it. The blade found its home in Alam’s chest, and he watched in satisfaction as the light left the man’s eyes. Only then did Dulac notice that everyone was watching their fight. He sat back on his legs, but a sudden weakness forced him onto his back. “Jesse.”
“I’m here.” She fell to his side, and her hands grabbed his. “Someone get a doctor.”
“Kiss me.” He could barely push the words out, and he inwardly winced at how weak and raspy his voice sounded. His strength waned, or he’d have gone after her lips instead of asking. Her hot tears spilled
on his cheeks. “Don’t cry. Just kiss me.”
Dulac latched onto Jesse’s mouth as if he were clinging to a life raft and caught her sobs in his throat. He twirled his tongue around hers in an effort to ease her pain. He closed his eyes, relishing her warmth and safeness. Then he sank into oblivion with her taste in his soul.
* * * *
Dulac couldn’t get his eyes to open. They felt like they were sewn shut, and he gave up trying. The dark was more soothing anyway.
His shoulder throbbed insanely, and he thrashed about in an attempt to shake off the pain. Unseen hands held him down, and a piece of ice froze to his forehead. He licked his lips, feeling as if his mouth were a desert.
“Jess,” he moaned. “Put it out. Put out the fire. It hurts.”
“Shhh.”
She helped him lift his head to take a sip of water. Though he still couldn’t open his eyes, he knew it was her. He swallowed the liquid and sank back into darkness.
The devil stood before him wearing a mask in the shape of human’s face. As Dulac stared, the shape became clearer, and it turned into LeBlanc’s face. Dulac knew it was still the devil as he could see the red horns above the mask. He crossed his arms and stood his ground. “You’ll not take me.”
The specter vanished without a word, but the flames dancing around him grabbed his arm. He screamed and slapped at his shoulder in an attempt to put out the fire.
Out of nowhere, water gushed over him, dousing the flames. He sank to his knees and fell forward on the ground, breathing peacefully for the first time in what seemed like ages. Dulac sighed and relaxed into a soothing sleep.
* * * *
Dulac inhaled the sweet scent of jasmine. He was on the verge of waking and felt a body curled up beside him. Moving his right arm, he placed his hand on a head, instinctively knowing it was Jesse. Her scent gave her away. Dulac’s fingers toyed with her silky hair. He pulled it away from her face and gently tucked it behind her ear. Then his fingers trailed feather-like over her cheek and chin until she stirred in her sleep.
Fully awake now, he loathed the thought of moving. He wasn’t ready to open his eyes but did so anyway. The room was dark with only a fire for light. The drapes were drawn, so he couldn’t tell if it was night or day.
Jesse’s sleepy movements stopped, and she slowly sat up. Her honey-brown eyes held a mixture of relief and joy. She smiled. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself.”
“How are you feeling?”
He shrugged and immediately regretted it. “I’ve been worse.”
“I thought the fever would take you.” Sobs caught in her throat.
“He tried. He lost.”
Jesse checked the bandages. “You shouldn’t have pulled the knife out. You did more damage.”
Events slammed back into his head. “It had to be done. Alam was as oily as whale blubber. He’d have found a way to escape. Besides, he threatened my family. He won’t do that ever again.”
She sat back on her heels and studied his face. “His sister’s still alive. Want her dead too?”
“I’m not a killer.”
“My point exactly.”
She leaned over, and her hair tickled his bare chest. He was becoming awake in more ways than one. Her sweet lips teased his. “Yer killing me,” he whispered.
Jesse smiled. “Aw, but ain’t it in such a sweet way?”
She straddled him as gently as possible and wiggled her hips enticingly. He placed his right hand on her hip in an effort to stop her. “Seriously, you’re killing me. I want to, darling, I really do.”
Jesse rolled her eyes. “I know you can’t. That’s simply an incentive for you to get better.”
“You better hope it takes me a long time, darling, ’cause I have plans for you.”
She laughed and got up. “Oh, I’m more than ready, Cap’n. Rest assured, I’ll drop my sails for you any time you want.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Josephine Templeton represents angels, demons, vampires, and sometimes humans. She is a member of HeartLa (the Baton Rouge chapter of Romance Writers of America) and a freelance writer with Lafayette’s 008 Magazine, Town Favorites and Baton Rouge Parents Magazine. She has two published novels under her wings (Convicted of Love—an historical romance, and Forever Yours—a vampire romance), and she is pleased to announce that book one of her Fallen Angelle series, Scorned, will soon be released through Crescent Moon Press. Stay tuned to her website at www.josephinetempleton.com
For your reading pleasure, we invite you to visit our web bookstore
WHISKEY CREEK PRESS
www.whiskeycreekpress.com
A Pirate's Kiss Page 28
